The best air mattress for camping

There are several options to choose from when it comes to camping air beds. To make your life easier, we analyzed 6,677 user reviews to compile a list of our top air mattress picks for your next outdoor camping adventure.

No. 01

SoundAsleep Camping Series

It is built to be durable and stand up against the rough exterior of natures floor, and it comes in both a “twin” and a “queen” size, to give you options. It has a carrying bag to make storage and transportation a breeze, and it inflates in just about 3 minutes for quick and easy set-up.

Reviewers love how incredibly comfortable this inflatable bed is. However, they did not like that it deflated after a couple of days out in the wilderness. So, if you do not mind reflating it after a couple of days, this is the air bed for you.

No. 02

Lightspeed Outdoors

It weighs 6lbs and is 18.4 X 9.2-Inches (very thin). It is a queen size, is puncture resistant, and comes with a battery-operated pump.

It was built to outlast its competitors and the manufacturers ensure extreme durability, which is perfect for camping. It comes in several different colors and also comes with a bag for storing.

Buyers love the affordability and size of this air mattress - many of them mentioned that is fit perfectly in their car and did not take up all of their space. However, a few reviewers mentioned that it does gradually release air over time, which they did not like.

No. 03

Intex Comfort Plush

The Intex Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam Airbed has a waterproof vinyl top lining and is stands 22” off the ground, giving the feel of a real bed. It comes with a duffel bag for easy storage and travel. It takes a bout 4.5 minutes to inflate or deflate.

A unique trait is that it also has indented sides to help sheets from slipping off, which means you can truly have an at-home experience in the great outdoors.

Reviewers loved that this air mattress is affordable, comfortable, and durable. However, it comes with a required AC plug in for inflation, which is perfect for guest rooms, but not so great for camping.

No. 04

Coleman Queen Cot

It is one of the only air mattresses on the market that comes with a metal frame that can either act as an extra cot for more guests or as a bed-frame for the airbed itself. It holds a maximum weight of 600lbs and comes with two side tables and cup holders for maximum convenience.

Reviewers love that this bed supports their backs and is incredibly versatile. However, there were a few mentions that this is not a great choice for truck-bed camping.

No. 05

Intex Pillow Rest Raised

It has a double-layered wave beam inside making this particular airbed extremely comfortable. Also, it has built in inflatable pillows for an added layer of luxury. This bed inflates in about 4 minutes and comes with a easy-to-use carrying case. It has a 600lb capacity.

Several reviewers mention that they love that this air bed comfortably fits two people with plenty of room. However, a couple of reviewers do not like that it stretches out over time.

Buying Guide

A quick guide to camping air mattress reviews

When in search for a camping air mattress, you want to make sure that you find something that will provide lasting comfort all night long. Figuring out what sets one of these air beds apart from one another can be difficult.

To make your decision a little easier, here are the top questions you should ask when looking to buy an air mattress for camping:

Is it robust?

There are many air mattresses on the market that claim to accommodate both “indoor and outdoor” use. However, when searching for an inflatable bed for camping specifically, you want to read through the manufacturers description and be sure it says somewhere in there, even if the word “camping” is not listed in the title. You need to be reassured that the air bed was made with outdoor use in mind.

Whether you intend to use this air mattress in your tent or outside under the stars, it is important to make sure that the blowup bed you choose is made with durable material that is intended to withstand the rough terrain that comes along with campouts (you know - rocks, dirt, sticks, and leaves).

It will also ensure that you are getting a product that was intended to be puncture-proof, waterproof, and humidity/temperature proof (all the proofs).

Plus, while you're camping you want to make sure you are comfortable, so going the extra mile to get an air mattress with a pillow top or a cotton top lining might definitely be worth it.

Is it lightweight and portable?

Is it lightweight, compact when stored, and easy to take out, set up, and put away?

There are a few air beds on the market are heavy, bulky, and not easy to use, so make sure you check the reviews to be certain of what you are getting.

An air bed that would be considered “lightweight” would be anywhere from 6lbs-20lbs. Remember that the heavier it is, the thicker it is, so this is where you need to decide how thick of mattress you actually want.

Look out for 'low-rise' and 'high-rise'. If you see the words low-rise, then you know that air bed is thinner, and closer to the ground. Whereas a high-rise air mattress is thicker and taller.

Will it fit in your tent comfortably?

If you are planning to fit your new air bed in your tent, it is important to look at the height, width, and overall thickness of each air mattress and compare it to the room available in your tent.

Another question to consider is if you will need to inflate the air bed inside your tent or if it will fit through the door opening and can be inflated outside, first.

The reason this is important to take note of is that not all mattresses come with a battery operated pump, which means if the air mattress is too big to fit through the door frame on your tent, but needs to be inflated using a car operated electrical pump… then you have a serious problem.

This is also the time to double check the size that you are interested in.

Most air bed brands offer their product in twin, full, queen, or king sizes, so before you put the product in your cart and check out make sure to check the box or website to see what size it is.

It would be a shame to get your tent all set up only to open up your new air bed and realize it’s not the size you wanted.

How the reviews stack up?

Customer reviews are where you will truly be able to see if the blowup bed you are researching stands up to the expectation its’ manufacturers set up for it. You want to look for the three key features: durability, affordability, and comfort.

It is important to take note of the fact that in order to get top quality durability and comfort, sometimes that means expanding your budget a little bit.

If you only plan to use the air mattress during your yearly camping trip with the family, then maybe comfort is your top priority. However, if you belong to a family or you personally enjoy camping every weekend during the summer, be ready to possibly sacrifice a little comfort for durability - if your budget is extra tight.

Also, make sure that you look at a few reviews from all categories: 1 star, 2 star, 3 star, 4 star, and 5 star.

You want to make sure you are putting a wide-scope lens on the information that you are getting about the air bed. Sometimes, reviews get lost in the middle, so if you only look at the best and worst reviews, you might miss some key information about how well the airbed really holds up overtime or how comfortable is actually is for a majority of it’s customers.

Will it stay inflated?

Last, but most certainly not least, you need to look in the customer reviews specifically to see what the manufacturers have done to ensure that their air bed does not deflate during the night, then also look at if reviewers are satisfied with that aspect.

The whole point of purchasing an inflatable mattress for camping purposes is to make sure you do not end up on the hard nature floor, so it is imperative that your air mattress doesn’t give out on you.

You now have all of the information you need to make the best possible decision about your new camping air mattress. We hope that you create memories for years to come in the great outdoors.